Around Town

ALXnow Daily Debrief for Oct 10, 2025

By Ryan Belmore

Good Friday evening, Alexandria. Let’s take a look back at today’s stories and a look forward to tomorrow’s event calendar.

🕗 News recap

The following articles were published earlier today — Oct 10, 2025.

Here are today’s most-read articles:

  1. Finn and Fire to replace Kismet in Old Town (1330 views)
  2. 32-townhome project in Old Town returns to BAR in November (721 views)
  3. Traffic Alert: Lanes closed due to vehicle fire on I-95 near Eisenhower Avenue (628 views)
  4. What’s happening this weekend in Alexandria: Oct. 9-13 (415 views)

Since it’s Friday, we’ve also compiled a list of the most-read articles of the week, below.

  1. ‘Beyond disqualifying’: Jay Jones controversy jolts Virginia’s pivotal 2025 elections (9885 views)
  2. Alexandria man charged with abduction, assault after ice cream dispute (8078 views)
  3. Grocery store opens inside Del Ray Farmhouse Market and Garden (7081 views)
  4. Alexandria-area bakery lands Capital One Arena pretzel contract (5045 views)
  5. Finn and Fire to replace Kismet in Old Town (3280 views)
  6. Alexandria activist group plans 1,200-person protest along Route 1 as part of national ‘No Kings’ movement (3090 views)
  7. Alexandria Police locate missing 24-year-old woman (2369 views)

📅 Upcoming events

Here is what’s going on Saturday in Alexandria, from our event calendar.

Here are the events planned for Sunday:

🌧️ Saturday’s forecast

Showers are possible before 11am and after 2pm, with mostly cloudy conditions and a high near 69°F. There’s a 30% chance of precipitation and an east wind at 5-8 mph. On Saturday night, showers are likely after 2am, accompanied by a cloudy sky and a low around 60°F. There’s a 70% chance of precipitation, with new amounts between a tenth and quarter of an inch, and a northeast wind at 8-13 mph with gusts up to 21 mph. See more from Weather.gov.

💡 Quote of the Day

“Yesterday is not ours to recover, but tomorrow is ours to win or lose.”
– Lyndon B. Johnson

🌅 Tonight’s sunset

We hope you have a great weekend, Alexandria!

Alexandria gears up for Halloween with parades, parties and poison tours

By Ryan Belmore
Halloween on Lee Street in Old Town, Oct. 31, 2024 (staff photo by James Cullum)

From boutique trick-or-treating to drag brunches and poison tours, Alexandria is pulling out all the stops for Halloween 2025. Whether you’re looking for family-friendly activities, pet parades, or adults-only thrills, the city’s packed calendar offers something for every ghoul and goblin.

Here’s your guide to the best Halloween happenings around the city.

Go to Alexandria gears up for Halloween with parades, parties and poison tours Read more

What’s happening this weekend in Alexandria: Oct. 9-13

By Ryan Belmore
Pets at Paws in the Park (photo by Martyn Griffen/Animal Welfare League of Alexandria)

Discover all that’s happening for events, live music, entertainment, and happenings around Alexandria this weekend; enjoy!

Organizing an event? Submit your event to ALXnow’s Event Calendar.

Go to What’s happening this weekend in Alexandria: Oct. 9-13 Read more

Metro School of the Arts hires Helen Hayes-winning music director

By Ryan Belmore
Metropolitan School of the Arts Welcomes Award-Winning Music Director Walter "Bobby" McCoy to Musical Theatre Faculty (via Metropolitan School of the Arts)

Metropolitan School of the Arts has appointed Walter “Bobby” McCoy, a multiple Helen Hayes Award-winning music director, to its musical theatre faculty and private lesson staff.

McCoy, a Nicaraguan-American artist prominent in the D.C. regional theater scene, will teach private music lessons and serve as music director for the school’s musical theatre workshop class, according to an announcement on Wednesday.

Go to Metro School of the Arts hires Helen Hayes-winning music director Read more

Ethiopian fall festival to celebrate culture, music at Chinquapin Park Sunday

By Ryan Belmore
2025 Festival Flyer (Contributed image)

The Ethiopian Community Support and Assistance Center will host its fifth annual Ethiopian Fall Festival on Sunday at Chinquapin Park, featuring live music, traditional dance and authentic cuisine.

The event runs from 1-7 p.m. at the park at 3210 King St. and is open to the public.

Go to Ethiopian fall festival to celebrate culture, music at Chinquapin Park Sunday Read more

Virginia native Phil Vassar brings ‘Paradise’ tour home to The Birchmere

By Ryan Belmore
Phil Vassar will perform at The Birchmere on Oct. 26. (Photo Credit: Phil Vassar on Facebook)

Country music star Phil Vassar returns to his Virginia roots this month, bringing his “25 Years of Paradise” tour to Alexandria’s Birchmere Music Hall on Oct. 26. The Lynchburg native celebrates the 25th anniversary of his breakout No. 1 hit “Just Another Day in Paradise” with an intimate acoustic performance that promises nightly setlist changes and covers of musical legends like Billy Joel and Elton John.

For Vassar, who attended James Madison University before moving to Nashville in the 1980s, performing at the Birchmere holds special meaning. “I used to go there when I was starting out as a musician, and I went to James Madison,” Vassar said in an interview with ALXnow on Wednesday. “It’s just such a historic venue, and I just love coming to rock.”

Go to Virginia native Phil Vassar brings ‘Paradise’ tour home to The Birchmere Read more
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